![]() Indoors, sunflowers grew straight toward the light, activating genes associated with phototropin. In the new study, graduate student Christopher Brooks, postdoctoral researcher Hagatop Atamian, and Harmer looked at which genes were switched on (transcribed) in sunflowers grown indoors in laboratory growth chambers, and in sunflowers growing in sunlight outdoors. Harmer’s lab at the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences has previously shown how sunflowers use their internal circadian clock to anticipate the sunrise, and to coordinate the opening of florets with the appearance of pollinating insects in the morning. Sunflowers swing their heads by growing a little more on the east side of the stem-pushing the head west-during the day and a little more on the west side at night, so the head swings back toward the east. ![]() ![]() Plant scientists had assumed that sunflowers’ heliotropism, the ability to follow the sun, would be based on the same basic mechanism, which is governed by molecule called phototropin and responds to light at the blue end of the spectrum. Most plants show phototropism-the ability to grow toward a light source. By subscribing, you agree to receive email related to Lab Manager content and products.
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